Social Media Detox for Creativity

Like many, my screen time increased dramatically when quarantine started. The ability to stay connected with others through social media despite physical distance became a coping mechanism to feel a sense of normalcy. The increase of my usage naturally brought a feeling of discontent. I started feeling like there was so much noise to filter through in my everyday.

The uneasiness made me reflect on my relationship with social media, and what value it brings to my life. I came across the concept of the filter bubble, a theory by Eli Pariser that refers to a skewed representation of reality as a result of algorithms dictating the information and media we encounter. If you’d like to learn more about it, I suggest reading this article that explains the concept thoroughly.

Algorithms feed our confirmation biases and serve us media through calculations of previous consumption. Although it can save time and tailor our digital experience to suit our preferences, our filter bubbles can be detrimental to individuality and critical thinking.

Many creatives look to social media platforms for inspiration. I think this is why at times, I feel that Instagram photos start to look the same after a while and collective creativity falls flat for the sake of being Pinterest-worthy. I am reminded by Haruki Murakami’s quote:

“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”

The objective is to not step away from social media for some time and come back “enlightened”. A narrative we often hear, yet feels like a crash diet. The objective isn’t also to become anti-social media. I don’t ignore the harmful effects of the persuasive design and commercialization of these platforms, but we are ultimately in charge of how we navigate these spaces. Whether we like it or not, social media is heavily intertwined in our everyday lives. Even if we don’t participate in it, we still live in a world influenced by it.

Depth and complexity get disregarded in a world that favours aesthetic/click-bait content and catchy headlines. As creatives, it’s beneficial to take breaks from social media. Pay attention to what is around us. Practice thinking critically and looking for context to form our own opinions. Assess what value we get from having the world at our fingertips and how that may hinder our creativity.